Legalizing pot in Canada will run afoul of global treaties, Trudeau warned

Canada could find a way to adhere to the treaties, but will have to show that legalizing marijuana helps reduce illicit drug use
The Globe and Mail (Canada)
Tuesday, January 5, 2016

canada-pot-flag3The Liberal government will have to do substantial work on the international stage before it can follow through on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to legalize marijuana, new documents suggest. That work will have to include figuring out how Canada would comply with three international treaties to which the country is a party, all of which criminalize the possession and production of marijuana. Internationally, says a briefing note prepared for the prime minister, Canada will also have to find a way to essentially tell the world how it plans to conform to its treaty obligations. (See also: International Law and Drug Policy Reform)